We’re in a fight to the death

It’s easy to become spiritually complacent, to get comfortable where we are, to forget what’s at stake.

Suppose you’re fighting a battle in the middle of a great war, completely surrounded by the advancing enemy. What would you do? Kick off your boots and enjoy a latté while you read the morning newspaper? It’s a ludicrous picture, but it’s something many of us do.

We’re tempted to live our lives as if there’s not this huge cosmic struggle going on. Just do our jobs, manage our to-do lists, pay our bills, and act like there’s no Satan, no “spiritual forces of evil,” as Paul puts it. That’s a deadly approach.

C.S. Lewis said that we make two mistakes when we think about Satan and his demons. Some of us respond with superstition… We might overstate Satan’s power. Superstitious folks see Satan everywhere they look. Others respond with what Lewis calls “substition”, which understates Satan’s role in today’s world.

I think most of the folks I know (including myself) fall into this camp. Blinded by our modern understanding of reason, we’re more likely to believe that everything has a rational, physical explanation. People do bad things because they make bad choices, had a rough upbringing, inherited bad genes, or have a mental illness.

Is it also possible that they fell under the sway of Satan and let him take over their lives? I think so. Peter’s warning still applies: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

I think we need to be more aware of what Satan is doing in the world, and particularly what he’s doing in our lives.

If you’re a Mom or Dad, he’s after your kids. He’ll do anything to win their hearts.

If you’re married, he’s after your marriage. He’s trying to drive a wedge between you and your spouse.

If you’re single, he’s trying to undermine your relationships so that they pull you away from God.

Regardless of where you are, he’s after you, and he’ll pull every trick in the book to convince you that your relationship to Jesus really isn’t that important.

Don’t let him intimidate you – he can’t overpower God, of course – but don’t underestimate him either.

Introduction

The Bible describes Satan as the enemy, adversary, murderer, tempter, and the wicked one – 1 Peter 5:8; Luke 22:31-32. Because Satan and those angels that followed him rebelled against God, they were cast out of their heavenly habitation – Luke 10:18; Jude 6.

The devil and his angels have no hope of redemption. The blood that was shed in Jesus death, that washes away our sins when we believe in Jesus Christ (John 3:16), cannot save Satan and his angels. The devil and his angels have a place reserved for them – Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4.

Since Satan, and his host of angels that followed him, will never enjoy the beauties and splendor of heaven again, Satan is determined to destroy man, doing his best to make sure heaven is not man’s eternal home.

Satan Uses Deceit and Lies to Eternally Destroy the Souls of Men and Women

If Satan and his angels are able to convince you to believe and live a lie, instead of obeying the living truth of God’s Word, he has you captured and placed you in the bondage of sin. This will lead to your eternal damnation if you don’t turn from error to the truth – Genesis 3:1-7.

Satan has an arsenal of weapons to deceive you with. These include covetousness (Matthew 19:16-22), lust of the flesh (2 Samuel 11, David & Bathsheba), and an unforgiving heart (Matthew 6:14-15), to just name a few. Therefore, you must take heed and become aware of the deceiving power of Satan, so that you don’t fall into sin and death – 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12.

Satan also uses lack of Bible knowledge (Hosea 4:6) to deceive, and ultimately damn, souls. A number of people today believe aborting an unborn child, taking an innocent life, is acceptable behavior. Others contend that there is nothing wrong with fornication, or sodomy. Satan has greatly deceived many – 2 Timothy 3:13.

Satan’s Work is to Accuse Christ, and His Servants, to Turn Many from Saving Truth

A proper name for Satan is the devil which denotes, “an accuser, a slander.” In Matthew 4:4, 7, 10, the devil tempts Jesus to sin by challenging Jesus Divinity. After each temptation Jesus directs the devil to the written Word of God.

There will be people, led by the spirit of Satan, who will falsely accuse the character and faith of Christians. This is because it is the work of Satan to turn people from the truth – Galatians 1:6-8; Acts 13:6-10. For example, many believe the lie that the devil has espoused in the religious world, that water baptism is not necessary for your salvation – Mark 16:16.

God loved us and sent His Son to die for the sins of the world. God raised Him from the dead, giving victory to those that obey Him, rejecting Satan, sin, and death. Why not come and be free today – John 8:36.

Introduction

The Bible describes Satan as the enemy, adversary, murderer, tempter, and the wicked one (1 Peter 5:8; Luke 22:31-32). Because Satan & those angels that followed him rebelled against God, they were cast out of their heavenly habitation (Luke 10:18; Jude 6).

The devil and his angels have no hope of redemption. The blood that was shed in Jesus death, that washes away our sins when we believe in Jesus Christ (John 3:16), cannot save Satan and his angels. The devil and his angels have a place reserved for them (Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4).

Since Satan, and his host of angels that followed him, will never enjoy the beauties and splendor of heaven again, Satan is determined to destroy man, and make sure heaven is not his eternal home.

Satan Uses Deceit to Destroy Souls

If Satan and his angels are able to convenience you to believe and live a lie, instead of obeying the living truth of God’s Word, he has you captured and placed you in the bondage of sin which will lead to eternal damnation, if you don’t turn from error to the truth (Genesis 3:1-7).

Satan has an arsenal of weapons to deceive you with such as:
– Covetousness (Matthew 19:16-22)
– Lust of the flesh (2 Samuel 11 – David and Bathsheba)
– An unforgiving heart (Matthew 6:14-15)

Therefore, you must take heed to the deceiving power of Satan so that you won’t fall into sin and death (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

Satan uses the lack of Biblical knowledge (Hosea 4:6) to deceive, lie, and ultimately damn souls with rebellious angels. A number of people today believe aborting an unborn child’s life is acceptable behavior, others contend that their nothing wrong with fornication, or sodomy, but Satan has greatly deceived many – (2 Timothy 3:13).

Satan Accuses Christ Causing People to Turn From Truth

A proper name for Satan is the devil which denotes, “an accuser, a slander.”

In Matthew 4:4-10, the devil tempts Jesus to sin by challenging Jesus Divinity. After each temptation Jesus directs the devil to the written Word of God.

There will be people that are led by the spirit of Satan who will falsely accuse the character and faith of Christians, because it’s the work of Satan to turn people from the truth (Galatians 1:6-8; Acts 13:6-10).

For example many believe the lie that the devil has espoused in the religious world that water baptism is not necessary for your salvation (Mark 16:16).

God loved us and sent His Son to die for the sins of the world. God raised Him from the dead, giving victory to those that obey Him over Satan, sin, and death. Why not come and be free today (John 8:36).

Introduction

Satan, the god of this world, our enemy the devil, has been successful in blinding or covering the eyes of many, the lost, from the truth that they might be saved.
For example:
– Has not Satan blinded women whom have chosen to abort (murder) their unborn child? (1 John 3:15).
– Has not Satan blinded atheist whom do not believe in God? (Psalm 14:1).
– Has not Satan blinded those who practice sexual immorality? (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
– Has not Satan blinded those who believe being good is good enough to make it to heaven (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

This is why we need to be reminded that Jesus is the light of the world, and to follow Him, so we don’t walk in darkness (John 8:12).

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT SATAN USES TO BLIND US?

One of the things that Satan uses to blind us is human reasoning.
We should realize our human knowledge is limited, but God is omniscient (All Knowing), so doesn’t it make sense to put your trust in God who knows all. In (Proverbs 16:2), we learn the ways of man are clean in his own eyes, but God judges (Proverbs 14:12).

Satan also uses our preconceived ideas to blind our eyes from the truth.
Many Jews rejected Jesus because he did not fit their preconceived ideas of the Messiah as a conquering King. A suffering servant, whom would die for the sins of the world, did not fit their preconceived ideas about the Messiah, even though these things are confirmed by the prophets (Luke 24:13-25) Way to Emmaus (Read Luke 24:13-27).

Satan also uses people’s blind faith in false preacher’s the cover their eyes from the truth.
These individuals have failed to search the scriptures for themselves to identity the words or speech of their preacher’s as truth or error (Acts 17:11).

Therefore, make sure you get to the source of the truth, the Word of God.
Do not get blinded by human reasoning, preconceived ideas, or false teachers because Satan and his followers will be rooted up and fall into the ditch (Matthew 15:13-14).

HEAR BELIEVE REPENT CONFESS BAPTISM FAITHFUL LIVING

Presented by Harry D. Anderson, Jr. June 15, 2011 at the Gahanna-Jefferson Church of Christ, Blacklick, Ohio